Free Research Report
High Growth Study 2026: Executive Summary
The 11th edition of Hinge’s annual High Growth Study explores how the fastest-growing professional services firms achieve exceptional growth and profitability—and how ordinary firms can emulate them.
The professional services landscape has recalibrated. Median growth has cooled to 9.9%—the lowest since 2018—as the theoretical threat of AI becomes a real operational disruptor.
Yet, while the market stalls, an elite group of High Growth firms is accelerating. These firms grow 4X faster than average and have achieved a 39.5% profitability on average.
How do they do it? In this 11th edition of Hinge’s signature study, we break down the four key advantages—Marketing, Talent, Strategy, and Technology—that allow top performers to turn marketplace uncertainty into a competitive weapon.
What You’ll Discover:
- The AI Mandate: Why 85.2% of High Growth firms are doubling down on AI to drive efficiency and strategic insight.
- The 2-to-1 Budget Advantage: Why winners spend 12.0% of revenue on marketing while others treat it as a cost center to be minimized.
- The Power of Visible Experts: How top firms are 2.5X more likely to activate subject matter experts to build trust in a content-saturated world.
- The Hybrid BD Model: How to balance high-touch in-person events with high-reach digital strategies to dominate your niche.
- Digital Maturity: Why digitally mature firms are 4X more likely to outperform their peers by breaking down data silos.
The Data Behind the Strategy:
- 770 firms from across the globe.
- $87 Billion in combined revenue.
- 4 core industry groups, including AEC, Consulting, Tech, and Accounting.
Looking for Industry-Specific Benchmarks?
Don’t settle for broad averages. Purchase our deep-dive breakout reports for the latest 2026 data on AEC, Accounting, Consulting, or Tech to see exactly where your firm stands against the top performers in your industry.